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The hundredth monkey phenomenon dates back to studies in the 1950s which followed the behaviors of macaque monkeys on the Japanese island of Koshima. One day, the primatologists noticed that a young female monkey, perhaps fed up with the residual taste of grit in her mouth after mealtimes, was washing her sand-encrusted potatoes in the sea before eating them.
Her family watched on and followed suit. Then her playmates. Then their families. One-by-one, over several years, this change spread within the troop.
When monkey number 100 adopted the behavior it became what is now described as the point at which ‘critical mass’ had been reached … the tipping point for thousands of other monkeys to follow suit, the idea transformed from being an exception to the norm.
In charity work, meaningful change rarely happens all at once. It often begins with one person taking action, just as a young monkey on Koshima Island began washing sand from her potatoes. All it takes is one person to start the cascade and a few others may adopt it. Gradually, charity can spread from person to person, then family to family until it becomes a cultural norm.
Eight years ago, Bottoms Up Diaper Bank started with just two people who thought they could make a small difference in a few single moms’ lives.
Today, after distributing millions of diapers and helping tens of thousands of single moms and their babies, public awareness of diaper need has yet to reach the 100th monkey. And public awareness is the only road to the long-term sustainability of Bottoms Up.
Through the productive use of social media, speaking engagements, relations with friendly media, Bottoms Up has made great progress in public awareness of the need.
When people realize that there are mothers in their community (even their neighborhood) who scrape out the contents of a diaper and put it back on their baby because they can’t afford enough diapers, they are deeply, profoundly moved.
But the quest for the 100th monkey of awareness continues.
Ubiquitous public knowledge can only be reached with the aid those who believe there’s a better way for single mothers and have a desire to help. All it takes is a little time and a lot of compassion.
Bottoms Up could use all the help it can get to affect public awareness of diaper need, and your help is urgently needed. Volunteering, posting on social media feed, talking about Bottoms Up with friends and family, or donating much needed funds.
All can help Bottoms Up make a real difference in the lives of single mothers. Act today and help build a more charitable society, one person at a time.
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